July 13, 2009
BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) is working in partnership with the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation, the Ministry of Health Services and the BC Medical Association to support residents who (after discussion with their physician and family) wish to refuse cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the end of their natural life, or due to a life-limiting illness.
In British Columbia, as in other jurisdictions, No CPR orders may be written on a prescribed BCAS form by a physician for patients who:
- have been diagnosed as having a life limiting illness or are considered to be at the natural end of their life, and
- have decided that, in the event of a respiratory and/or cardiac arrest, no cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is to be undertaken.
All BC residents who wish to refuse cardiopulmonary resuscitation (No CPR) due to the reasons above are advised to have their physician fill out a no CPR form to ensure their instructions are followed by health care professionals. Forms are available from your physician or can be downloaded from the Ministry of Health Services website.
BCAS also recommends a No CPR MedicAlert bracelet or necklet be worn to enable quick verification of your No CPR order. This is simply because a bracelet/necklet is always with the patient where a paper form may not be. These bracelets and necklets are available free of charge to BC residents through the MedicAlert website or by calling Toll Free: 1-800-668-1507.
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